Display panels with selectable indicators



June 8, 1965 G. R. coGAR ETAL 3,188,521

DISPLAY PANELS WITH SELECTABLE INDICATORS Filed June 18, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 1 55 F/G. l

Meo/v Z I from/7 A3605 FGH] June 8, 1965 G. R. coGAR ETAL 3,188,621

DISPLAY PANELS WITH SELECTABLE INDICATORS Filed June 18, 1962 4Sheets-Sheel 2 9 N6; y# Q a @4F-a@ Q/ June 8, 1965 G. R. COGAR ETAL.

DISPLAY PANELS WITH SELECTABLE INDICATORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ilfed June18, 1962 R iIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII June 8, 1965 G. R. coGAR E'rAl.3,188,621

DISPLAY PANELS WITH SELECTABLE INDICATORS Filed June 18, 1962 3,188,621DISPLAY PANELS WITH SELEC'IABLE INDICATORS George R. Cogar, Doylestown,and Donald 0. Neddenriep, Willow Grove, Pa., Ernesto G. Sevilla, NewYork, NX., Torkiell Selrsc, Norristown, Pa., and Earl E. Master-son,Weston, Conn., assignors to Sperry Rand Corporation,

New York, NSY., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 18, 1962, Ser. No.203,274

13 Claims. (Cl. 340-324) Thisy invention relates to the iield of displaydevices. More particularly it relates to a novel display panel which,though compact in size and low in cost, is capable of displaying a largenumber of unique conditions.

One common use of display systems is in connection.

with contemporary data processing equipment such as computers,processors, tabulators and the like. This invention will be described inconnection with such a unit though it should be understood its use isnot so limited but, instead, can be used wherever it is a requirementthat .a large number of points in a unit be monitorable in a relativelysmall space as, for example, to indicate to maintenance personnel or tothe operator the area wherein a difficulty exists causing the unit tomalfunction.

In the past, if sufficient information was to be provided this hadnecessitated an extensive console type arrangement perhaps a separateunit being provided with a display panel having an indicator for eachone of the control points which is monitored. When the control point'has a normal signal level thereat the lamp at the console display panelis in a iirst condition, e.g. Ofi, and when that control point ismalfunctioning then the corresponding lamp on the control panel would beplaced in its other position, e.g. On, indicating to the operator that adifficulty exists. During the following discussion it should be realizedthat alternative arrangements are equally possible. For example, theindicators at the panel could be normally On, being turned oft` bydetection of a chosen signal at a monitored point.

' While this approach has been necessary and may be desirable with largescale data processing systems, it is awkward and impractical for thesmaller units which do not normally have the physical size to permit afull console display panel and further whose cost does not allow theinclusion of such a panel either on the unit itself or as a separate,auxiliary unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide la noveldisplay unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a display unit'for adata processingfmachine.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a display unitfor a data processing machine which, though compact Vin size, canprovide access to a large number of control points within the unit.

' Other and'further objects and advantages of the invention will beclear when the following description is read in conjunction with theVaccompanying drawings.

Briefly stated, the invention'provides a display unit for monitoring aplurality of points. The display unit includes a number [of indicatorsand means bearing a number of indicia for each indicator. The indiciabearing means is selectively positionable. Each indicium refers to adifterent point to be monitored. The apparatus used to position theindicia also establishes a setrot connections, through a gatingcircuit,lfrom each selected indicator to the point corresponding to theindicium positioned at that indicator.

f Referrnggn'ow to the figures: g

FIG. l is a logic diagram of an exemplary gate circuit used in theinvention. v

FIG. 2 is a representation ofthe switch means used to condition the gatecircuit of FIG. 1.

3,188,521 Patented June 8, 1965 ice FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of aportion of the gate circuit shown in logic form in FIG. 1.

FiG. 4 is a representation of a display panel in accordance with oneembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism associatedwith the display panel of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the mechanismshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of a display panel used in conjunction with themechanism shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. l a gate circuit having four output lines labeledNeon l-Neon 4 is shown. It will be understood that in a preferredembodiment of the invention eight such circuits would be providedproviding output signals for 32 Neon indicators. Since these circuitsare identical it is believed unnecessary to include more than the oneexemplary embodiment. Each of the output lines will be effective whenthey receive a high signal from associated inverter amplifiers 1li, 11,12 and 13. Associated with each of these amplifiers is a low Or gate 14,15, 16 and 17, respectively, and each of these low Or gates buffs nineinputs from nine low And gates making a total of 36 low And gates inall, identified by reference numerals 18-53. The low Or gates 14, 15,16, and 17 will produce a low output if any input is low and willproduce a high output if all inputs are high. The low And gates, such asgate 27, will produce a low output if all inputs (two in this instance)are` low and a high input if any input is high. The inverter amplifiers1t), 11, 12 and 13 produce high outputs if the inputs are low andproduce low outputs if the inputs are high.

One input to each of these And gates is provided by the switchassociated with the indicia selection mechanism shown in FIG. 2. In thepreferred embodiment there are nine switch positions and only one of thevertical lines in FlG. l will be low for selected mask. These lines arelabeled A-I. The other input to each of these And gates is provided fromdesired test points throughout the unit with which the display system isassociated, e.g. Processor, Computer, Tabulator, Punch, etc. Gne of the36 inputs associated with the portion of the circuit illustrated might,for example, be connected to the carry iiipiiop of an arithmetic unit ofa computer or processor, another to a switch associated with cardkfeeding on a punch card reader or punch, etc. respectively. Inputterminals 54-62 are associated with And gates lli-26, respectively, andthe output of these And gates control the lighting of Neon 1 through Orgate 14 and inverter amplifier 1i). Inputs 63-71 are similarlyassociated with Neon Z, inputs 72-80 are associated with Neon 3 andinputs Slt-S9 are associated with Neon 4.

The operation of this circuit is-not believed to require extensiveexplanation. For example, if the indicia position is selected that willprovide a low signal on line A,

then each of And gates 26, 35, 44 and 53 will have a iirst low inputapplied thereat. Thereafter, if a low signal appears at any one or moreofthe terminals 62, 71, 80, or 89, the respective And gates 26, 35, 44or 53 will 4 have a low signal on both its inputs causing the respectiveAnd gate to produce a low output. And gates receiving high signals willproduce highs at their outputs. The outputs of the And gates 25, 35, 44and 53 are fed to their respective Or gates 14, 15, 16 and 17. Those Orgates receiving low inputs produce low outputs which are inverted by therespective inverter amplifiers 10, 11, 12 and 13 to produce a highoutput signal causing the associated neon lampi, 2, 3 or 4 to be lit,indicating the presence of the tested for signal. Those Or gatesreceiving high inputs produce high outputs which are inverted to lowoutput signals by the inverter amplifiers. The low signal outputs failto light the assoelated Neon lamps thus indicating the absence of thesignal The 36 input terminals are labeled 54-89,

Referring now to Vtestedmfoi.` Similar tracings of the circuitsassociated with.

i tion this kverhit/W might Showthe'rindieium unitn7 as indiciapositions identified by linesY B-,I yield thesarne results. Each of thenine inputlines enables on'e'ofV the The Neon is then under y A ,Y thecontioloitheV inputV line of the selectedgate. Y Y

FIG. 2 switch arrangement is shownr l for providingv the signals whichappear onfon'e of ylines A-I'of FIG. 1. f The output lines of FIG. 2areY similarly,

labeled A-l vcorrespondingto the :lines in; FIG. f1.y l Itis evidentVfrom this ligure that as Arm 90 of switch`91is rotated, a'negativeVpotential fof lapproximatelyf..--30 'volts will be applied sequentiallyto the lines labeled'E, H, VI, D, C,.G, B, F, and'AA in that order.

ratotating member 92 will ground those 8 of the9 wiresV which'do nothave the -370 volts appliedv thereto. VAs

will ber seen from the discussion ofFIGS.;.5 and 6, Arm 9.0 andelement'92 are .controlled by awheel or dial.l which 'in turn' may bemanually operated to indicia onqthe display panel itself.

cludes a switch vor drive element for *controlling Veach of the Neonskused on the'display panel. 'In thepreferred embodiment there 'are 32such Neons and accordingly 32 drive elements. Again inthe preferredembodiment and as illustrated in the schematic this drive-,element `is atransistor, and twoare'shown labelelQl and .Q2 respectively. f

' The output Yto .drive the Neons is'taken` from the vcol-v lector ofeach'transistor and these transistorsA are opery Y y vpinion andassociated gear; train indicatedy at.108. Gear ated .in 4the groundedemitterbase input. model'. While changev the 'i Y j y Y. @2o FIG; 3 is aschematic diagram :of aportionof the cir- Y c uityshown in logic formin'FIG. 1. This circuit inf' than'9v translucent sheetpositions or rbyincreasing the number of window positions per slot with a consequent Y yincrease in indicators 'rNeons At .the'same time VKindicated, andmightbelit only when'there. was an error inthe cardreader section of the unitwith vwhich the display panel is associated. Y Y f Since each positionof the `translucent vsheet is capable of displaying 32 points ofthefunitgbeing-'monitored and since there :are 9..sheet positions,a'total of 288y display pointsare possible. It ifs,ofV course, easytopsee how this, could be expanded, still maintaining substantial spacesavings, in verysimple-fashion-either by providing more could easilyl bevertical instead,` with `the .sheet movable from `right to left.y

VFIG. 5 shows a Aback lviewi'of'theportion of the ma- Y chine havingthedisplaypanel shown in FIG; 4. VAs

' is scena pair. of'fsupports areprovided, indicated at 101,

to. mountrthedisplay panel and .associated components on the unitfto'bemonitored. Thedisplay panel bears referfence numeral 9521's itV did inFIG. .4.; -Attachedto suplocated behind. one window .portion of panel'95 as was described in connectionV with discussion of FIG. 4. The

' f translucent .sheet referred to but not shown yinFIG. 4

PNP type transistors are shown, if AdesiredfNPN transistors could Ybeemployedwith suitablel alteration in'bias-Y `ing and signal levels.- Ifywe consider transistor Qland the linesfeeding the basethereof .astheequivalent of'a'm-j' DiSm .ShOWll UFIG- 2' "S Wheel .109.45 rotated,Tack' plier 10 andv OR Vgate 14 of FIG."1fand transistor Q2- theequivalent-of amplier 11v and ,Or gate 15 ofFIG. C1,

thenY transistor Ywill .control Neon 1 and transistor Q2 willf controlNeon 2 as indicated atlthe outputsk ofl the! two transistors. The inputterminals atv the left of this figure are A,labeled to correspondto theterminals. shown n v in FIG. 1. vIt isobvious, for example, that if Va-signalis low at terminal 54 it willY have no effect on vtransistor Q1which is normally'biased or inthe Off or 'non-conducting conditionVVunless the signal on the line labeled E. is co:`

incidentaly low. Only infthiscase will the effect of diodes 93'and94'be'such1as to permitthe base of transistor Q1 Y to be mademorenegative driving' thatjtran'sistorzintoV conduction and providingcollector thereof.

a more positive signal'at lthe A.,

t Referring now Yto FIG." 4,'*one embodimentof adis# play panel `inaccordance with.this'inventic5n-isl shown. This panel-mounted on a pieceof ,equipment'fwhich is to be monitored comprises a masking portion. 95having four longitudinal-apertures, 96,97, 98 andY 99. In the subsequent.figures a .translucent sheet or membrane i mounted behind panel 95 canbe moved upwards o'iidowny wardsV so that different portions .oftheisheet can be posia,

tionedgto appear at the four apertures. f

A translucent sheeticapable rof:-operating with the. dis-V playpanelof-FIG..4 `and .withv thefswitch Varrangement of FIG.y 2 would havenine distinct positions, so .that'ninel differentindicia.. groupingswould be visible in thev win-11l l dows, such asv window 100. In Yanyposition some or all ofthe areas visible through apertures 9699 wouldhave. f

' labels thereon indicating the unit pointjtowhichfthe f indicator lampassociated with ,that particularwindowis connected., Thus, iffaperture96had'ryvindow 100' assoc'iatediwith a flipop involved in' a,cardreader' malfunc- Y ancerpelr'sonnel.

. Referring now to FIG.

the. operating Vmechanism associatedfwith the circuitry vvis denominatedby lreference numeralV 106. As is. seen 30 Vthis translucent sheet,suchy aspglas'sv or plastic, is connected to a vrack.mechanismfltV whichis operated by a trainl in turn is driven bya wheel v109 which, in theAembodiment shown,` is top be. manuallyoperated.

rOn the sameshaft as wheel 109 is the .switch mecha- 107willcarry-translucent sheetl upwards or downwards behind maskf'thro`ugh1theactionofpinion and v gear ,train 108. As translucentsheetv 106 reaches each of its 9 positions, switch 91will`reach anassociated one of its 49'positionsV making the yappropriate circuitconnec- 'tions through the switch circuit shown in'fFIG.2. Atl any givenpositionone of thel ninevlines ofV switch 91 is applied to the gatingcircuit shown; inFIG.. lat which timeappropriate'signals from therunitpoints being monitored will cause-a given indicator or Neon to be litshow- Ving through ther translucent Vsheet-106 yand illuminating theindicium'at .that window tothe 'operator or mainten- `6,a"jfurtherembodimentof shown inFIGS. VILSA isi presented. .The indicator or Neon.lamp .y arrays Vcannot be seen .in this. vgure Abut terminal' stripsfor the lamp jare'indica'ted by reference numerals 110,111, l112, and113.,Y In place ofthe translucent plate l106.015I FIGg-Slfour drums areprovided,

denoted vby reference numerals l114, 11s, v116 and 117v respectively.TheSedrUmshaVe a 'nonagonal` cross-sectional.'` area andi-each ofthe. 9plates carry 8 areas each,

` eachof the areas correspondingV to. one of the windows of the displaypanel itself and some goras; many as all of these"y areas'are`appropriatelylabeled to indicate aAV point in the vunit tobe monitored.that yisfassociated'with the indicator. or Neon rat thatsparticularwindow.. The thumb wheel of FIG. 5 isalso employed in FIG; 'fidentiiedvVbym-'the same reference numeral; 1.09.? but instead lo f therirackla'nd pinion'arrangement of FIG. 5v a gearis providedoperated*fdirectlyffrom thumb fwheel,` and connected toeach.,ofqthefouridrums lThese Vgearrsfare'indicated VbroadlyVb'y':reference numeral 118. Y, The switchfof FIG. 2.is also employed inthisvembodimentandis indicated by the same Vreference numeral again, `i.e.numeral 91.-

4The advantagesfof'thistype v.of construction vcan be more clearlyappreciated by reference, to FIG.v 7 .which shows a front view ofrakdisplay panel which might be utilized with the mechanism shown in FIG.6. With this type of display panel the Neon array remains uncovered andonly the indicium beneath each Neon or indicator is changed by rotationof thedrums. This permits a largerarea both for the labeling ofthewindow as well as for the visible light ofthe indicator.

' While what has beenshown and described is believed to be thepreferred-embodiments of and the best modes of practicing thisinvention, it will be clear to those skilled in the art thatmodifications and variations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, it isintended tolimit the scope of the invention solely by appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display unit for indicating the potential at a plurality of pointsincluding a number of indicators, a mask having a number of aperturesequal to said number of indicators, control means for selectivelypositioning said apertures relative to said indicators, a gate circuitfor connecting a different one of a first portion of said plurality ofpoints to each of said indicators, and a switching circuit adapted to becontrolled by said control means to connect a different one of a secondportion of said plurality of points to each of said indicators.

2. A display unit for monitoring a number of points including at leastone group of indicators capable of being actuated, a gate circuitconnecting each of said indicators to at least two different ones ofsaid points, each of said points capable of exhibiting first or secondpotentials thereat, said first potential being effective to cause theactuation of said indicators, a multiposition switch for applying agating signal to permit the enabling of a different one of said pointsassociated with each different indicator for each position of saidswitch, indica carrying means associated with said indicators, saidindicia carrying means having an indicium for each point connected toeach indicator, means for positioning said indicia carrying means sothat a desired indicium is closest to its assocated indicator, saidmeans for positioning said indicia carryng means also positioning saidmultiposition switch, ywhereby the indicium closest to each indicatoridentifies the point connected to said indicator which is enabled.

3. A display unit including a substantially rectangular mask having aplurality of apertures substantially parallel to afpa'ir of oppositesides of said rectangle, a plurality of indicator lamps positionedbehind each of said aperturesy and visible thereto, a light permeablesheet adapted to be placed at a plurality of positions located betweensaid indicator lamps and said mask, indicia formed on said sheet andassociated with each of said indicator lamps, positioning means forselecting one of said plurality of positions for said sheet, each ofsaid sheet positions exposing through said mask apertures one indiciumfor each of said indicator lamps, a plurality of points capable ofexhibiting first or second potentials, gate circuitry connecting each ofsaid indicator lamps to different ones of said points, said indicatorlamps operable in response to the detection of said first potential,said gate circuitry including enabling means for permitting thepotential at only one of said plurality of points associated with eachindicator lamp to be applied to its said associated lamp, said enablingmeans being controlled by said positioning means whereby the indiciumvisible for each indicator lamp in any sheet position identifies thepoint connected to said indicator lamp made effective by said enablingmeans.

4. The unit defined in claim 3 wherein said positioning means includes arack affixed to said sheet and a pinion manually rotatable.

5. The unit defined in claim 3 wherein said gate circuitry includes anAnd gate associated with each of said points, the output of said Andgate being connected to the indicator lamp associated with said point,one input of each of said And gates connected to its said associatepoint and a second input connected to said Or gates being connected to adifferent one of said indicator lamps, the output of each of a number ofsaid And gates, said number being no greater than the nurnber of saidsheet positions, connected to the inputs of said Or gates, one input ofeach of said And gates connected to its associated point, the otherinput of each 0f said And gates connected to said enabling means, saidenabling means being chosen so that a different one of said And gatesassociated with each of said Or gates receives an enabling input foreach different sheet position.

'7. The unit defined in claim 6 wherein said enabling means includes amultiposition switch having a different position determined by eachdifferent sheet position.

8. A display unit for monitoring a number of points including a panelhaving a first plurality of translucent portions, a number of indicatorlamps adapted to be actuated positioned behind each of said portions, arotatably mounted drum associated with each of said portions and locatedbehind said panel, each of said drums having a plurality of rows ofindicia on its surface, one column of said indicia associated with eachdifferent indicator lamp, means for rotating said drums to displaydesired rows of said indicia at said portions, gate means selectivelyconnecting a chosen one of said points to each of said indicators, eachof said points capable of exhibiting rst or second potentials, saidnumber of points connectable to each of said indicators being no greaterthan said first plurality of translucent portions, said first potentialbeing effective to actuate said indicator lamps, said gate means beingcontrolled by said means for rotating said drums.

9. The unit dened in claim S wherein the cross-sectional area of each ofsaid drums is N sided polygonal surface, N being equal to said pluralityof rows, and said means for rotating said drums includes a manuallyoperated wheel and a gear train actuated by said wheel coincidently andequally rotating each of said drums.

lil. A display system for monitoring the potential at a plurality ofpoints including a display panel having a plurality of apertures formedtherethrough, a number of indicators adapted to be actuated by a givenpotential mounted in a row behind said panel at each of said apertures,a moveably mounted indicia bearing unit associated with said apertures,said unit having N rows of indicia for each of said apertures, eachindicium identifying one of said plurality of points, control means forselectively positioning said unit in one of N positions, each of said Npositions displaying a different one of said N rows of indiciaassociated with each of said apertures, a switch circuit applying saidgiven potential on a chosen one of N output lines, said control meansselecting a different output line for each of said N unit positions, andgate circuitry connected between said points and said switch circuit andsaid indicators, said switch circuit output determining which of saidpoints may be effective to actuate said indicators.

lll.. The system defined in clairn 10 wherein said gate circuitryincludes an And gate connected to each of said points, the outputs of Nof said And gates being connected to each of said indicators, each ofsaid N output lines of said switch circuit being connected to one ofsaid N And gates connected to each of said indicators, said indiciabeing arranged on said unit so that the indicia visible through saidaperture identify the points whose said given potential fromsaidswitcheircut. g t Y A -12. The system defined in c1aim-10ywhereinsaid'unitineludes a transparent sheet, vrriountedjbetweensaid ina;4

associated Andr"gatestareQeuabied biy'fthe applicationojf dicatorsk andsaid apertures, said indicators ernittingradia- Y v tion vwhen actuatedVcausinga, yisible display'fthrough said"` apertures, and rack andpinion means for selectingfone of saidNpositions. K n i A 'y 13. Thesystem ldefined in claim 12Y wherein Vsaid unit ,includes anumber of Nsideddr'urns equalto the.l num ber offsaid apertures, each side of ,eachoflSaid drums,

'Y A'1,621,696 '3/27l nWinteis i v Rfererlcesited therEiraminier*Vulvrrialn sLTjATEs PATENTS f having indicia thereon, and agearftrainmanually oper- 1y

1. A DISPLAY UNIT FOR INDICATING THE POTENTIAL AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS INCLUDING A NUMBER OF INDICATORS, A MASK HAVING A NUMBER OF APERTURES EQUAL TO SAID NUMBER OF INDICATORS, CONTROL MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING SAID APERTURES RELATIVE TO SAID INDICATORS, A GATE CIRCUIT FOR CONNECTING A DIFFERENT ONE OF A FIRST PORTION OF SAID PLURALITY OF POINTS TO EACH OF SAID INDICATORS, AND A SWITCHING CIRCUIT ADAPTED TO BE CONTROLLED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS TO CONNECT A DIFFERENT ONE OF A SECOND PORTION OF SAID PLURALITY OF POINTS TO EACH OF SAID INDICATORS. 